UNIFIL Commander Maj. Gen. Paolo Serra said Tuesday that he thanked President Michel Suleiman for Lebanon's strong commitment to U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 despite many challenges.

Following a meeting with Suleiman at Baabda Palace, Serra said: “ I expressed my appreciation for the strong commitment to resolution 1701 that Lebanon has demonstrated in the face of the multitude of challenges it has been dealing with.”

A Syrian national was killed on Tuesday while setting up an explosive device in the town of Halat, north of Beirut.

The State Commissioner to the Military Court inspected the house where the blast took place in the morning.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Tuesday that it has become necessary to form a new government that tackles the people's daily concerns, especially in light of the advent of winter and the start of a new academic school year.

He said before his visitors: “The formation of a new cabinet will not change the political status quo or the situation around us.”

Military Examining Magistrate Imad al-Zain issued on Tuesday arrest warrants against two Syrians for planting explosives that targeted a Hizbullah convoy in the Bekaa Valley.

Al-Zain issued the warrant against Amer Hamdan after interrogating him, said the state-run National News Agency.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi praised on Tuesday the stances of President Michel Suleiman that seek the interests of Lebanon and its constitutional institutions, criticizing powers that are skeptical of the army and security forces' competency in protecting Lebanon.

He said: “We have no need for autonomous security. Those who adopt such measures do not trust the state.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat MP said Tuesday he agreed with Speaker Nabih Berri on the need for national dialogue to resolve the country's political crisis.

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) after meeting with a delegation from Berri's parliamentary bloc at his residence in Clemenceau, Jumblat said he agreed with Berri on “the concept of dialogue,” adding he “insisted on it.”

President Michel Suleiman is scheduled to head a meeting of the Lebanese delegation that will travel to New York to agree on an official report on Lebanon's needs to confront the huge Syria refugee influx.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper quoted informed sources as saying Tuesday that the Baabda palace meeting is aimed at putting the final touches on the report drafted by the Social Affairs Ministry in coordination with the president's advisers.

Al-Mustaqbal bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora has told members of Speaker Nabih Berri's bloc that the national dialogue is not a constitutional institution during a meeting described as “important.”

An Nahar daily on Tuesday quoted officials close to Saniora as describing the 90-minute meeting with the Development and Liberation bloc as “important.”

Speaker Nabih Berri said Tuesday that the Baabda Declaration cannot become the new government's policy statement and accused several parties of turning it into a Trojan Horse.

In remarks to As Safir newspaper, Berri said: “The Baabda Declaration is not fit to be a policy statement...which usually includes a description of the government’s policy in all fields such as electricity, , development, economy and security.”

Four people were wounded on Monday when unknown gunmen opened fire on a cafe in the northern city of Tripoli, state-run National News Agency reported.

“Masked gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on a cafe owned by Hatem al-Ward in the Tripoli neighborhood of al-Qobbeh, leaving the owner and three people wounded,” NNA said.